Approved Document E - Resistance to the passage of sound

This document covers sound insulation requirements in dwelling-houses, flats, rooms for residential use and schools. These requirements not only cover party walls, but also internal walls and floors, and common areas within flats and rooms for residential uses.

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The requirements in this edition of Approved Document E are as follows:

E1 - Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings
Dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes shall be designed and constructed in such a way that they provide reasonable resistance to sound from other parts of the same building and from adjoining buildings.

Limits on application
None

E2 - Protection against sound within a dwelling-house etc.
Dwelling-houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes shall be designed and constructed in such a way that -
(a) internal walls between a bedroom or a room containing a water closet, and other rooms; and
(b) internal floors, provide reasonable resistance to sound.

Limits on application
Requirement E2 does not apply to -
(a) an internal wall which contains a door;
(b) an internal wall which separates an en suite toilet from the associated bedroom;
(c) existing walls and floors in a building which is subject to a material change of use.

E3 - Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes
The common internal parts of buildings which contain flats or rooms for residential purposes shall be designed and constructed in such a way as to prevent more reverberation around the common parts than is reasonable.

Limits on application
Requirement E3 only applies to corridors, stairwells, hallways and entrance halls which give access to the flat or room for residential purposes.

E4 - Acoustic conditions in schools
(1) Each room or other space in a school building shall be designed and constructed in such a way that it has the acoustic conditions and the insulation against disturbance by noise appropriate to its intended use.
(2) For the purposes of this Part - school has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Education Act 1996[1]; and school building means any building forming a school or part of a school.

Limits on application
None

Additional guidance to support Approved Document E

Robust details handbook

Robust details provide a quick guide to the type of separating walls and floors available. To design or build robust details, you will need to select the walls and/or floors you wish to use from the robust details handbook (see below).

Each robust detail has its own sitework checklist. These are designed to help builders to ensure that building work is carried out exactly in accordance with the robust detail specifications.

Building Bulletin 93 aims to provide a regulatory framework for the acoustic design of schools in support of the Building Regulations. Give supporting advice and recommendations for planning and design of schools and provide a comprehensive guide for architects, acousticians, building control officers, building services engineers, clients, and others involved in the design of new school buildings.

The requirement in this edition was:
E1 - Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings
E2 - Protection against sound within a dwelling-house etc.
E3 - Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes
E4 - Acoustic conditions in schools

The requirement in this edition was:
E1 - Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings
E2 - Protection against sound within a dwelling-house etc.
E3 - Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes
E4 - Acoustic conditions in schools

The requirement in this edition was:
E1 - Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings
E2 - Protection against sound within a dwelling-house etc.
E3 - Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes
E4 - Acoustic conditions in schools

The requirement in this edition was:
E1/2/3 - Airborne and impact sound

Quick links to other Approved Documents

The regulations cover all aspects of construction and are constantly reviewed. The guidance documents referred to as 'Approved Documents' contain practical ways and explanations of how to comply with the functional requirements of the Building Regulations.